Snare drum



May 31, 1927.

. 1,630,461 F. J. BACON ET AL RRRRRRR UM Filed Aug. 27, 1925 2Sheets-Sheet 1 I 1,630,461 May 1927' F. J. BACON ET AL SNARE DRUM FiledAug. 27, 1925 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gnvwn haul it JBdC'On' D L Day.

Patented May 31, 1927 s wer FREDERICK J. Bacon AND DAVE) DAY. orGIILfiEJtI-N. or

inc-"dour.

SNARE DRUM.

Application. filed The present- .invention has for its primary object toprovide, in connection with snare drum, novel means for amplifying; andintproving the tone qualities of the ii'istrument. The ordinary snaredrum is somewhat lacking in tone volume and staccato qualities eventhough the vellum batter and snare heads thereof be properly andcarefully tensioned as also the snares, and even experienced drummersfrequently find ditlieulty in producing a close and uniform roll inplaying the instrument. Therefore, the present invention has as itsobject to provide in connection with a snare drum, a resonator whichwill serve to amplify the sound vibratitms thus greatly enhancing thetone qualities of the instrument and enabling the player to play theinstrument with a more pleasing effect than has heretofore beenpossible.

The principles of the invention may find embodiment directly in theconstruction of a snare drum but, in its more specific aspect,'

the invention contemplates the provision of av resonator or amplifierattachment for such an instrument which may be readily applied theretoand which will effectually serve the purposes outlined above.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a snare drum embodying the presentinvention.

Figure 2 is a. vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line2-2 of Figure l. looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

As illustrated in the drawings, the drum in itself con'lprises'the usualcylindrical shell or body 1, which may be of wood or metal, and orer theforward side of which is stretched the usual vellum 2 constituting thebatter head of the drum, the numeral 2-3 indicating the usual woodtcnsirming rii'ip which is titled, over the said front of the shell bodyand coacts with the usual ring alabout whirl the marginal portion of thevellum 2 is bound, the ring 3 being rabbeted as at and having tittedthereto the metal tens'ouinnhoop or ring 6 with which are engaged theusual tensioning hooks T. The numeral 8 indicates the vellum which isstretched over the rear side of the shell or body 1 and constitutes thesnare head of the drum and is tensioned by the usual wood ring or hoop 9which coacts with the metal ring 10 about which the marginal portion ofthe vellum .is bound, the usual metal tensioning ring August 2?, 13.25.

Se i l No. 53 560.

ll being: tilt. rabbet formed eir ruinferentiai v in the outer side ofthe hoop or F123;: 9 ml z-e ui' on "God bv the usual tensionini' hoohs l-l. 'lhe snares are indi rated the numera l las usual extend dnetrically across and sulgxstantialiv with the snare head 9. The rouand.

in the of th invention illusx an for a purpose t 11 j )(Wl the rabhetedportion or th r S) of somewhat :ireiiter depth than usual so as toprovide an extended portion 15 projecting beyond the rear edge of thering 11.

is n'eviously stated. the invention resides generally in the provisionof an 211111.. ilier or resonator whirh is indicated in general by thenumeral l6. and the same coinprises an outwardly bulged head 17 which isprel erably of wood although metal may be ourploved for the purpose.ll'here the head 17 is made of wood. it is preferablv raduallv derreasedin thickness from its peripheral portion to its central portion and.therefore. possesses resonant qualities. The amplifier or resonatorfurther comprises an annular shell which is indicated in general by thenumeral 13 and which is proferably of metal and integral. throughout andthis annular shell embodies a l-w lindriral attaching flange ll) whichis tilted to the ext rior of the extension 15 of the ring: 5) andserured in place by screws 20 wh rl: are threaded through bosses 21 punthe outer side of the flange and in openings formed in the said 9. thesrrews being prmided with knurled heads 23 whereby the may beconveniently rotated manually in applying; and removing the amplifier oiresrmatm'. From the flange 19 the annular shell lt outwardly andreal-weirdly as izuliruted by the numeral and the rear peripheral porton lhereof seats in a rabbet 25 crilend mr rircumferentialiy o f theperiphery o l the head 16. securing screws :26 being titted through thisportion of the annular shell, and threaded into the said peripheraportion of the head. The out wardly and rearwardly flared portion of theher which is defined by the snare head 8 the head 16. and the annularshell 18.

It will be evident from the foregoing description of the invention thatthe sound Waves propagated through Vibration ot the snare head or vellum8 and the snares 14!; will be amplified Within the amplifying orresonating chamber through reverberation due to the resonant characterof the head 16 and due to reverberation, the vibration of the snares l-las well as the vii, 'a'ion ot the vellum 8 will be prolonged andamplified, thereby amplifying the sound waves and greatly improving thet'( quality thereof.

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustnted in the drawingsthe invention is disclosed as an attachment for snare drums. but it willbe quite evident that the invention may ind embodiment directly in theconstruction (it the drum itsel't and tha' the resonating andampli'tying chamber may be c emstructed otherwise than as specificallyillustrated and described. without in any way departing from the spiritot the invention.

Having thus described the invention. ivhat We claim is:

1. The combination with a embodying the usual batter and snare drumsnare heads.

of a resonatingand amplifying chamber enclosing the said snare head.

Q. The combination with a snare drum eml'iodying the usual batter andsnare heads, oi? an enclosed resonant member confronting the said snarehead.

:3. The combination with a snare drum embodying the usual batter andsnare heads, the it *7 mentioned head including the usualvelllini-tensioning ring, of a resonating and amplifying chambercomprising a head of resonant material and an annular shell surroundingand supporting the headand, in turn. supiorted by the said tensiouiugring.

t. The combination with a snare drum embodying the usual batte and snareheads, of an amplityii'ig chamber comprising a resonant Wall attached toand surrounding the snare head, and a resonant head supported by saidresonant Wall and opposing the said snare head. the resonant \vall,resonant head and snare defining a resonating chamber housing thesnares. and the Wall having sound outlet openings therethrough.

in testimony whereof \ve alfix out signatnres,

FREDERICK .T. BACON. DAVID L. DAY.

[In sIi [L- sf]

